What about the story that concludes Masechta Makkos, about R’ Akiva laughing as he passed the Churban and saw foxes running through what was left of the Bais Hamikdash? When his talmidim were puzzled at his odd behavior, he said that when he saw the first part of the nevuah (about the foxes running about in the Churban) come true, he knew knew for sure that the second part of the nevuah (that the Bayis will be rebuilt), will also come true. And that’s why he laughed. And his companions answered him that he had given them nechoma.
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